P O L Y T E C H N I C U N I V E R S I T Y O F T HE P H I L I P PI N E S

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Mechanical Engineering Department

MEEN 30322
Mechanical Engineering Lab 2
BSME

Experiment No. 7
Test of Centrifugal Fans and Blowers

GROUP 12

Submitted By:
Abrigo, Jeanielle Adriana Miguelle P.
Dela Peña, Julie C.
Dy, Chloe F.
Nuñez, Jaymon Paul A.
Sacdalan, Ullrich Sebaztien P.
BSME 4-1

Date submitted:
January 2024
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I. Objectives
1. To familiarize the different types of fans and blowers and uses.
2. To know the characteristics of each type and design
3. To know the pressure exerted by fans by means of measuring instruments
II. Apparatus
• Set of orifice plate
• Manometer
• Stainless ruler
• Adjustable wrench VOM Tester
• Tachometer
• Clamp ammeter
• Anemometer
• Stell tape
III. Procedure
1. Draw the set up of experiment

2. Draw the set-up of the experiment place the desired orifice diameter at the end of
the air funnel.
3. Start the motor by switching the main plug to the main AC source.
4. Test the motor with load condition. Find the RPM, current rating, and the voltage.
5. Test the motor for no load condition (remove the left) Find the RPM, current rating,
and voltage, Use two minutes duration for each trial.
6. Compute the necessary requirements needed to complete the data sheet.
7. Place a U-tube manometer with water and place the orifice on the other end of the
duct, read the pressure and static and the velocity.
8. Do not same for the different orifice diameter.
9. Compute for the losses of the total head in duct.
𝑓𝑉𝑚 2𝐿
ℎ𝑓 =
11,250,000(𝑑 2 )
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒

ℎ𝑓 = 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡 𝑑𝑢𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

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𝑓 = 0.0008

𝑉𝑚 = 𝑉𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤

𝐿 = 𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡

𝑑 = 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡
10. Fill up the tabulation below
IV. Tabulation and Results
1. Types of Motor Rated Power of Motor
2. Voltage Current Rating
3. Cycle Type of fan blade
4. Phase

Orifice Diameter Static Pressure Velocity Pressure Velocity at

Throat
(inches) (inH2O) (inH2O)
2.5 1 1/2 1 1/8 98.7024 𝑓𝑡
2.5 1 3/8 1 3/8 98.7024 𝑓𝑡

V. Computations
Solving for the Velocity head of air:
3 1𝑓𝑡 𝑙𝑏𝑚
𝜌𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 (1 8 𝑖𝑛)(12𝑖𝑛)(62.4 3 )
𝑓𝑡
𝜌𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑔ℎ𝑎𝑖𝑟 = 𝜌𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 → ℎ𝑎𝑖𝑟 = =
𝜌𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑙𝑏𝑚
0.07244
𝑓𝑡 3
98.7024 𝑓𝑡
Solving for the air flow rate:
𝜋 𝑓𝑡 8.8056𝑓𝑡 2
𝑄 = 𝐴𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝜐𝑎𝑖𝑟 = (4.5𝑖𝑛)2 (79.73 ) =
4 𝑠 𝑠
VI. Questions to answer:
1. Define each.
a. Ventilation fans - A ventilation fan is an electromechanical device that
helps to expel unwanted air particles, moisture, odors, smoke and/or
fumes from an indoor space. Ventilation fans are installed in order to
create an environment with sufficient air movement, to achieve
healthy and comfortable indoor air.
b. Inlet vane control - Its multiple radial vane blade arrangement around a
central hub helps to introduce swirl into the fans inlet for an enhanced
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flow control.
c. Velocity Pressure - In a moving fluid, velocity pressure (VP) is the
pressure that would induce an equivalent velocity if applied to move
the same fluid through an orifice, so that all pressure energy is
converted into kinetic energy. It is used in air conditioning, heating
and ventilating work to determine air velocity.
d. Blower - A blower is a device that pushes out gases by imparting energy
to increase its pressure and speed.
e. Statice Pressure Speed control - The controller uses a static pressure
sensor located in the supply duct. (at the end of the longest run) to
modulate the supply fan to control duct.
2. Explain the test for ventilating fans and blowers. - The test for ventilating
fans and blowers typically involves evaluating their performance
characteristics and ensuring they meet specified criteria
3. What are the instruments used in test for fans and blowers?
a. Anemometer
b. Tachometer
c. Manometer
4. What are the basic operation conditions of forced draft fan?
Forced draft fans are essential components in various industrial processes and
HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems. These
fans are designed to push air into a system, creating positive pressure
and ensuring a consistent flow of air. The basic operating conditions
for a forced draft fan include:
a. Positive Pressure Creation
b. Supplying Combustion Air
c. Temperature Considerations
d. Variable Flow Rates
e. Dust and Particulate Handling
f. System Back Pressure
g. Efficiency and Energy Considerations
h. Control Systems
i. Material Compatibility
5. What are the basic operation conditions of induced draft fan?
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Induced draft fans play a crucial role in creating a negative pressure or suction
within a system, pulling air or gases through the system. These fans are
commonly employed in applications such as boilers, incinerators, and
HVAC systems. The basic operation conditions of an induced draft fan
include:
a. Negative Pressure Generation
b. Supplying Combustion Air
c. Temperature Considerations
d. Variable Flow Rates
e. Dust and Particulate Handling
f. System Back Pressure
g. Efficiency and Energy Considerations
h. Control Systems
i. Material Compatibility
6. What are some fans equation and discuss.
Several equations are commonly used in the analysis and design of fans, each
serving a specific purpose in understanding the fan's performance and
characteristics.
1. Fan Efficiency Equation
𝑝𝑄ℎ
𝑃=
𝜂

Where:
𝑃 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟
𝜌 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦
𝑄 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒
ℎ 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 (ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑)
𝜂 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑛 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦

2. Static Pressure Equation

𝑝𝑣 2
𝑃𝑠 =
2
Where:
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𝑃𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒

𝜌 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦
𝜐 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦

7. Explain how to purchase a large fan.

Purchasing a large fan involves careful consideration of various factors to
ensure that the selected fan meets the specific requirements of the intended
application. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to purchase a large fan:
a. Define Requirements
b. Application Analysis
c. System Characteristics
d. Size and Space Constraints
e. Noise Considerations
f. Energy Efficiency
g. Manufacturer and Quality
h. Review Product Literature
i. Consider Environmental Conditions
j. Budget Considerations
k. Request Quotations
l. Consider Long-Term Costs
m. Consult with Experts
n. Final Selection
o. Installation and Commissioning
8. Discuss each.
a. Forward curved fan blade - These are medium pressure, high airflow
fans that can be used in both clean airs, ventilating and exhaust
applications.
b. Radial fan blade - These are high-pressure fans with medium
airflow. Radial-bladed fans are best for industrial applications where
there is dust, or in environments where there is gas or moisture in
the air.
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c. Backward curve fan - These are high-pressure, high flow, high

efficiency fans. Power reduces flow increases over the most efficient
area of the system.

VII. Conclusion
The researcher was able to be familiar with the parts of centrifugal fan as
well as its operating procedures. The primary purpose of using a fan
in an industrial process is to apply power to a gas particularly air in
order to increase the energy content of the working fluid (air) which
causes it to flow since it is a fluid.
Centrifugal fans are among the most efficient and versatile pieces of air
moving equipment. The scroll housing in a centrifugal fan accelerates
the air and changes the direction of the air flow twice, a full 90 degree,
before leaving the housing. Centrifugal fans are quiet and reliable and
are made to operate in a variety of environments and applications.
VIII. Discussion
Based on the data gathered by the researcher, three trials were performed by the
researcher and each trial, the orifice diameter was varied. Taking an observation
of the speed of the fan, the data were precise to each other because the values were
slightly different with each other, and the speed has a value of roughly 1651 rpm.
Focusing on the pressure at the orifice, the static and velocity head measured by
manometer has a decreasing value when the orifice diameter was increased,
particularly for the velocity head. The deflection at static head decreases
throughout the trial were not quite far from each other but in the velocity head, the
researcher observed that the measured head decreased by almost half because of
the size of the orifice diameter.
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IX. Reference
Fans and Blowers. (2018). Retrieved from
https://www.saylor.org/site/wpcontent/uploads/2011/09/Chapter-3.5-Fans-
Blowers.pdf

Centrifugal Fans. (2018). Retrieved from

https://www.ebmpapst.com/en/products/centrifugal-fans/centrifugal_fans.html